Collapsible display device

ABSTRACT

A collapsible puppet display device includes a paper honeycomb accordion, vertically extensible body member connected at its bottom to a flat base member provided along its rear with an upstanding stop and at its top to a head member having a depending hinged flap and depending coplanar laterally spaced arms. The device is collapsible to a flat condition, is selfsupporting by swinging the flap into engagement with the stop member, and is string manipulative.

Unlted States Patent 1111 3,594,943

[72] lnventor Charles Luchsinger [56] References Cited Glen Cove. UNITED STATES PATENTS P 807307 1,551,250 8/1925 Henry 46/162 x {22] v 753 658 7/1956 Stickley 46/1 38 x [45] Patented July 27, 1971 73] Assignee Norcross, Inc. Primary Examiner- Louis G. Mancene New York, NX. Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Attorney-Howard C. Miskin ABSTRACT: A collapsible puppet display device includes a [54] DEVICE paper honeycomb accordion, vertically extensible body member connected at its bottom to a flat base member pro- [52] US. Cl 46/119 vided along its rear with an upstanding stop and at its top to a [51] Int. Cl A63h 11/00 head member having a depending hinged flap and depending [50] Field of Search 46/1, l 15, coplanar laterally spaced arms. The device is collapsible to a I19, I20, 126, 136, B8, l5l,

flat condition, is self-supporting by swinging the flap into engagement with the stop member, and is string manipulative.

PATENTED JUL2 7 I971 INVIZN'I'OR. CHARLES LUCHSINGER ATTORNEY The present invention relates generally to improvements in display devices of an ornamental and entertaining nature and it relates particularly to a collapsible device, which may be selectively employed as a string-manipulated puppet and a self-supporting display.

Many forms of devices have been produced which employ a paper honeycomb type of accordion member as a part thereof, which permits the manipulation of the device for slowing or rapidly altering its shape and appearance, the accordion member contributing to the structure and appearance of the device. Thus, extensible honeycomb accordion bodies of various shapes have been employed in greeting cards, table displays, toys, mannequin puppets, and similar devices. However, the devices heretofore available and proposed have been of limited application. When the device is in the form ofa stringmanipulated puppet, it couldnot be used, as such, as a display, and when such device is constructed for stationery display purposes, it cannot be employed as a puppet. These devices accordingly possess numerous disadvantages and frequently leave much to be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved display device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved string-manipulative puppet, which is selectively selfsupporting.

' Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved selective self-supporting display device and stringmanipulative puppet which is readily collapsible into a flat compact condition facilitating the storing, mailing or other distribution thereof, and which may be easily and rapidly erected in a variety of positions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above nature, which is simple, easy and convenient to use, of attractive appearance, highly versatile and adaptable, inexpensive and easily mass produced with conventional equipment. I

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof.

Ina sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of a collapsible display device comprising a base member, a head member including relatively forwardly and rearwardly spaced lower sections and a longitudinally extensible body member connected between said base member and a point on said head member above the bottom of said lower sections. said body member being longitudinally collapsible to at least a position wherein said bottoms of said lower sections are at the level of said base member. In the preferred form of the improved device, the base member is flat and is provided with an upwardly directed stop member along its rear edge. The body member is a honeycomb accordion member formed of tissue paper having its bottom end secured to the top face of the base member, and its top end secured to' a vertical head member, which includes a top section, depending coplanar side arms spaced from the sides of the body member, and a depending hinged panel positioned rearwardly ofthe body member.

In the device self-supporting position, the lower edge of the hinged panel engages the front face of the stop member and the depending arms engage the underlying surface at apdint not rearwardly of the upper part of the body member. The device can be used as a string-manipulated puppet in the known manner, and is readily collapsible into a flat condition for insertion into an envelope.

- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front perspective view ofa device embodying the present invention illustrated in a collapsed condition;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view thereof shown in a fully extended string-manipulated condition; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof in a self-supporting position; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the head member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved device which comprises a base member 11, a head or top member 12 and a longitudinally extendable and contractable interconnecting body member 13.

The base member 11 is substantially flat and of roughly square outline and has formed therein a triangular aperture 15 and is printed to simulate a pair of feet, or is otherwise decorated. The base member 11 may be die-cut or otherwise formed of cardboard, plastic sheet or other suitable material and have various configurations. Engaging and suitably secured to the rear edge of base member 11, and extending the full width thereof, is a channel-shaped stop defining member 14 formed of polyethylene or other suitable material. The stop member 14 projects above the top face of base member 11 and may be integrally formed as part of the base member 11, such as by bending the rear' border of the base member 11 to an upwardly projecting position.

The head member 12 may be likewise die-cut of cardboard, or formed of other suitable material, and decorated as desired. A face and a hat is illustrated. The head member 12 comprises an upper section 16 provided with an aperture 31 in the top medial part thereof and an elongated panel 17, shown generally rectangular, depending from and integrally formed with the upper section 16. Formed in panel 17 a short distance below the top thereof, is a transverse fold line 18, which delineates the upper edge of a depending s'wingable flap 19 having'a transverse bottom edge 20. Integrally formed with and extending downwardly and outwardly from opposite sides ofhead upper section 16 proximate the side edges of panel 17,

are curved arm members 21. The arm members 21 are laterally spaced from the opposite sides of panel 19 and when the head member 12 isin a lay flat condition, the lower edges 22 of arms 21 are colin ear with edge 20.

Body member 13 is of conventional accordion honeycomb construction and advantageously formed of tissue paper, in the known manner, and is longitudinally collapsible and extendible under the weight of the base member 11. The bottom flat underface of body member 13 is suitably cemented to the top face of base member 11 shortly rearwardly of the transverse medial axis thereof. The top rear face of body member 13 is suitably cemented to the front face of head member upper section 16 proximate the upper edge of panel 17.

In the collapsed condition of device 10 for storage, mailing or distribution, body member 13 is contracted and base member 11 is superimposed on the inner face of head member 12 to sandwich the collapsed body member 13 between base member 11 and head member 12. To use the device 10 as a puppet, a string 23 is tied to head member 12 through aperture 31 and the head member is supported by string 23 above a surface upon which base 11 rests. By manipulating string 23, the puppet is moved desired, in the known manner. When device 10 is so moved, body member 13 moves back and forth in the direction of arrow 30 in FIG. 2.

To achieve the self-support of device 10, such as for use as a table display, bottom edge 20 of flap 19 is positioned along the front edge of stop member 14 to restrict the rearward movement of the lower part of flap l9, and the arm bottom edges 22 are dropped into engagement with the surface upon which base member 11 rests at a point forwardly of flap bottom edge 20. The aforesaid positioning of flap 19and arms 21 can be effected, if desired. by earlier bending flap l9 rearwardly along fold line 18 fora suitable angle and manipulating device 10 with string 23 to bring flat edge into base 11 along the front edge of stop member 14. It should be noted that if base ll rests on a very rough high friction surface, device 10 will be self-supporting if flap edge 20 rests directly thereon, instead of on base 11 in engagement with stop member 14. However, the provision of stop member 14 permits the self-support device 10 on any surface. Also, arms 21 can be flexed rearwardly of flap 19 to support device 10.

If device [0 is used as a greeting card, a message can be printed on the bottom surface of base 11 and the surface of fiap 19.

What I claim is:

l. A collapsible display device, comprising a base member, a head member including an upper part and first and second spaced lower sections, and a longitudinally extensible body member connected between said base member and a point on said head member above the bottoms of said lower sections, said body member being longitudinally collapsible to at least a position wherein said bottoms of said lower sections are at the level of said base member.

2. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein said head member, including said lower sections, is selectively collapsible to a substantially flat position.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein said base member is substantially flat and movable to a position superimposed on the contracted body member and said head member.

4. The display member of claim 1 including a stop member located along an edge of said base member, the bottom edge of one of said head member lower sections being movable into separable engagement with said stop member.

5. The display member ofclaim 1, wherein the first of said lower sections is generally coplanar with the upper part of said head section, and the second of said lower sections diverges downwardly from the plane of the upper part of said head sectron.

6. The display member of claim 5, wherein said first lower section comprises a pair of laterally spaced depending arms disposed along opposite sides of said body'member.

7. The display device of claim 1, wherein saidbody member comprises a honeycomb accordion member.

8. The display device of claim 1, wherein said base member is substantially flat and is provided with an upwardly projecting stop member proximate a transverse edge thereof, said body member comprises a honeycomb accordion formed lon gitudinal band, one of said head member lower sections is hinged to the upper part of said body member and is movable into releaseable engagement with said stop member, and the other of said head member lower sections comprises a pair of laterally spaced arms depending from and coplanar with the upper part of said head member and spaced from the opposite edges of said body member.

9. Thedisplay device of claim 4, wherein said stop member is a channel-shaped member receiving one edge of said base member.

10. The display device of claim 8, wherein said head member is a flexible cardboard and is die cut. 

1. A collapsible display device, comprising a base member, a head member including an upper part and first and second spaced lower sections, and a longitudinally extensible body member connected between said base member and a point on said head member above the bottoms of said lower sections, said body member being longitudinally collapsible to at least a position wherein said bottoms of said lower sections are at the level of said base member.
 2. The display device of claim 1, wherein said head member, including said lower sections, is selectively collapsible to a substantially flat position.
 3. The display device of claim 2, wherein said base member is substantially flat and movable to a position superimposed on the contracted body member and said head member.
 4. The display member of claim 1 including a stop member located along an edge of said base member, the bottom edge of one of said head member lower sections being movable into separable engagement with said stop member.
 5. The display member of claim 1, wherein the first of said lower sections is generally coplanar with the upper part of said head section, and the second of said lower sections diverges downwardly from the plane of the upper part of said head section.
 6. The display member of claim 5, wherein said first lower section comprises a pair of laterally spaced depending arms disposed along opposite sides of said body member.
 7. The display device of claim 1, wherein said body member comprises a honeycomb accordion member.
 8. The display device of claim 1, wherein said base member is substantially flat and is provided with an upwardly projecting stop member proximate a transverse edge thereof, said body member comprises a honeycomb accordion formed longitudinal band, one of said head member lower sections is hinged to the upper part of said body member and is movable into releaseable engagement with said stop member, and the other of said head member lower sections comprises a pair of laterally spaced arms depending from and coplanar with the upper part of said head member and spaced from the opposite edges of said body member.
 9. The display device of claim 4, wherein said stop member is a channel-shaped member receiving one edge of said base member.
 10. The display device of claim 8, wherein said head member is a flexible cardboard and is die cut. 